DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTWEIGHT ENERGY-EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS INCORPORATING RECYCLED PLASTIC AND ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

This study presents the development and performance evaluation of lightweight energy-efficient construction blocks produced using recycled plastics and alternative mineral materials. The primary objective is to significantly reduce cement consumption and associated CO₂ emissions while maintaining adequate compressive strength and enhanced thermal insulation in accordance with European standards. The blocks were manufactured using river sand, crushed brick, basalt aggregate, volcanic ash, and shredded secondary plastics. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed blocks achieve a density of 500–650 kg/m³, compressive strength of 2.2–3.0 MPa, and thermal conductivity below 0.4 W/m·K. The findings confirm the feasibility of producing structurally reliable, thermally efficient, and environmentally sustainable masonry units with reduced cement content.